Chaserider

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Chaserider
Chaserider Volvo B8RLE Evora 639.jpg
Volvo B8RLE MCV Evora (639), seen here in Lichfield Bus Station on 16 March 2024, whilst preparing to operate a 60 to Cannock. This is one of 4 Evora’s that was purchased by Chaserider in 2023 to upgrade route 60 from Cannock to Lichfield.
Parent Centrebus Group
Founded1977 (Original)
January 2021 (Revived)
HeadquartersWenlock Way, Leicester
Service area
DepotsDelta Way, Cannock
Fleet58 (August 2024)
Fuel typeDiesel
Operator Centrebus Group
Chief executive Julian Peddle
Website www.chaserider.co.uk

Chaserider [1] is the brand name for bus services operated around Cannock and Staffordshire by D&G Bus, a local bus operator owned by Centrebus who are based in Adderley Green, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

Contents

History

The Chaserider brand name, which refers to Cannock Chase, was first used by Midland Red from 1977 [2] until 1992.

During November 2020, Centrebus Group subsidiary D&G Bus announced they would be taking over the Cannock depot of Arriva Midlands from the end of January 2021 with operations in Cannock and Stafford running under the revived Chaserider brand. [3]

Services

D&G Bus (Chaserider) Wright Streetlite DF 65 on 2.jpg

Chaserider services operate mainly around Cannock and Stafford with some further afield into Wolverhampton. [4] [5]

Since taking over from Arriva Midlands in January 2021, Chaserider have undertaken a number of service reviews including a trial of running buses on Sundays in partnership with Designer Outlet West Midlands from the Pye Green estates, services to Baswich and Lichfield have also been revised or passed to other operators. [6] [7] [8]

Some of the Stafford town centre network inherited from Arriva has been taken over by Select Bus Services. [9]

From June 2021, Chaserider introduced a new service X14 between Cannock, Shifnal, Telford and Oakengates. This had 6 journeys in each direction, but was withdrawn in January 2022 owing to low passenger numbers. [10] [11]

Chaserider (541) an Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 MMC in Travel Telford branding. Chaserider(541).jpg
Chaserider (541) an Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 MMC in Travel Telford branding.

From February 2023, Chaserider began operating subsidised services 102 and 103 along with school services 104 and 105 in the Telford area. Also operated under contract to Telford and Wrekin Council, Chaserider also began to operate service 100 in late 2022. These services utilise a fleet of 6 suitably branded Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 MMCs.

Service 1 which ran between Cannock and Walsall and operated every 20 minutes at its peak was curtailed to operate only between Cheslyn Hay and Cannock from the summer 2022. This was controversial as at the same time National Express cut its competing X51 between Cannock and Walsall (and which continues to Birmingham) to every 30 minutes from 20 minutes between the two towns.

In July 2023, Chaserider commenced operations on behalf of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and Staffordshire County Council, running services 35A and 36 between Walsall, Aldridge and Lichfield, with an additional service 19 under contract in October 2023 commencing, between Walsall and Bloxwich [12] Due to antisocial behaviour on part of the route of service 19, from 22nd November 2023 Chaserider and TfWM agreed to reroute the service after 4.30pm until further notice. Further antisocial behaviour caused Chaserider to temporarily cancel all journeys on service 19 after 3pm. TfWM arranged for services 23 and 25, operated by Walsall Community Transport, to divert one journey each way to partly cover the cancelled journeys. Service 19 is now operated by Carolean Coaches who have recently opened a depot in Bescot.

Further expansion saw Chaserider replace National Express West Midlands on service 5 (Wolverhampton to Codsall, evenings and Sundays) from 5 November 2023. Day time journeys are operated by Banga Buses.

In June 2024, saw the extension of the 63 Cannock to Rugeley via Brereton linking onto Uttoxeter in partnership with Bus Link.

In July 2024, saw the 35A Walsall to Leighswood via Aldridge service be withdrawn and replaced with a new 36A Walsall to Lichfield via Aldridge & Leighswood service. This is on behalf of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and Staffordshire County Council. [13]

Chaserider however will see further changes to their network this will see the Service 10 in Stafford withdrawn and replaced by a diversion on selected journeys on service 841, The service 74 will operate via the normal route on all journeys from Cannock towards Stafford. From Stafford towards Cannock buses will operate non-stop from The Sun (Lichfield Road) to Pottal Pool roundabout. We regret that there will be no southbound stops on service 74 through Queensville, Weeping Cross, Wildwood, Brocton and Bednal Head. Service 826 will provide an alternative service from Stafford to Weeping Cross, Wildwood and Brocton. There will be no southbound buses serving stops between Brocton and Pottal Pool. The service 826 will be curtailed to run between Stafford and Rugeley only. A revised timetable on service 828 will continue to run between Stafford, Rugeley and Lichfield every 30 minutes. Buses on service 826 from Stafford towards Rugeley will divert via Tixall Road and Holdiford Road between Stafford and Milford, then will operate in a loop via Baswich, Wildwood and Brocton back to Milford before continuing to Rugeley. Buses from Rugeley towards Stafford will continue to operate via Baswich and Queensville between Milford and Stafford. Buses on service 826 will no longer operate via the Springfields estate in Rugeley. The service 828 will be increased to run every 30 minutes between Stafford, County Hospital, The Haywoods, Springfields, Rugeley, Brereton, Handsacre and Lichfield. Buses will run to a revised timetable.

Fleet

As part of the sale to D&G bus, Arriva included 46 vehicles with sale of Cannock depot, since the takeover most of the vehicles have been refurbished into D&G two tone red livery with Chaserider branding alongside some newer additions from within D&G parent company Centrebus Group.

As of June 2022, Centrebus are upgrading the Chaserider fleet with newer vehicles from elsewhere within their operations. [14] [15]

As of August 2024, the fleet consists of 58 vehicles.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannock</span> Market town in Staffordshire, England

Cannock is a town in the Cannock Chase district in the county of Staffordshire, England. It had a population of 29,018. Cannock is not far from the towns of Walsall, Burntwood, Stafford and Telford. The cities of Lichfield and Wolverhampton are also nearby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rugeley</span> Town in Staffordshire, England

Rugeley is a market town and civil parish in the Cannock Chase District, in Staffordshire, England. It lies on the north-eastern edge of Cannock Chase next to the River Trent; it is situated 8 miles (13 km) north of Lichfield, 10 miles (16 km) south-east of Stafford, 5 miles (8.0 km) north-east of Hednesford and 11 miles (18 km) south-west of Uttoxeter. At the 2021 Census, the population was 26,156.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burntwood</span> Town in Staffordshire, England

Burntwood is a former mining town and civil parish in the Lichfield District of Staffordshire, England. It is approximately 4 miles (6 km) west of Lichfield and north east of Brownhills, with a population of 26,049 and forming part of Lichfield district. The town forms one of the largest urbanised parishes in England. Samuel Johnson opened an academy in nearby Edial in 1736. The town is home to the smallest park in the UK, Prince's Park, which is located next to Christ Church on the junction of Farewell Lane and Church Road. The town expanded in the nineteenth century around the coal mining industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannock Chase District</span> Non-metropolitan district in England

Cannock Chase is a local government district in Staffordshire, England. It is named after and covers a large part of Cannock Chase, a designated National Landscape. The council is based in the town of Cannock. The district also contains the towns of Hednesford and Rugeley, as well as a number of villages and surrounding rural areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chase Line</span> Suburban railway line in the West Midlands, England

The Chase Line is a suburban railway line in the West Midlands region of England. It runs from its southern terminus, Birmingham New Street, to Walsall, and then Rugeley Trent Valley in Staffordshire, where it joins the Trent Valley line. The name of the line refers to Cannock Chase which it runs through at its northern end.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shenstone, Staffordshire</span> Human settlement in England

Shenstone is a village and civil parish in The Lichfield District, Staffordshire, England, located between Lichfield and Sutton Coldfield. The parish also contains the village of Stonnall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walsall railway station</span> Railway station in the West Midlands, England

Walsall railway station is the principal railway station of Walsall, West Midlands, England and situated in the heart of the town. It is operated by West Midlands Trains, with services provided by West Midlands Railway. The main entrance is situated inside the Saddlers Shopping Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Wyrley</span> Village and civil parish in Staffordshire, England

Great Wyrley is a village and civil parish in the South Staffordshire district of Staffordshire, England. It forms a built up area with nearby Cheslyn Hay, Churchbridge, Landywood and Little Wyrley. It lies 6 miles north of Walsall and a similar distance from Wolverhampton. Cannock is directly north of the village. It had a population of 11,060 at the 2011 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midland Red</span> British bus company that operated from 1905 until 1981

Midland Red was a bus company that operated in The Midlands from 1905 until 1981. It was one of the largest English bus companies, operating over a large area between Gloucester in the south and Derbyshire in the north, and from Northampton to the Welsh border. The company also manufactured buses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arriva Midlands</span> British bus operator

Arriva Midlands is a bus operator providing services in the East Midlands and West Midlands areas of England. It is a subsidiary of Arriva UK Bus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Essington</span> Human settlement in England

Essington is a village and civil parish in South Staffordshire, England, located near the city of Wolverhampton and towns of Walsall, Bloxwich, Cannock and Brewood. The villages of Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Coven, Penkridge and Featherstone are also nearby. The village forms part of the Staffordshire/West Midlands border.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rugeley Trent Valley railway station</span> Railway in Staffordshire, England

Rugeley Trent Valley is a railway station serving the market town of Rugeley in Staffordshire, England. It is one of two stations serving Rugeley, the other being Rugeley Town. It is on the eastern side of the town close to the Rugeley Trent Valley Trading Estate and located close to the River Trent. West Midlands Trains operate the station, and all trains serving it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Landywood</span> Village in Staffordshire, England

Landywood is a village in the South Staffordshire district of Staffordshire, England. Landywood is part of the South Staffordshire ward named "Great Wyrley Landywood", It lies 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Bloxwich, 3 miles (4.8 km) south from Cannock and 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Walsall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hednesford railway station</span> Railway station in Staffordshire, England

Hednesford railway station serves the market town of Hednesford in Staffordshire, England. The station forms a part of the Chase Line and is operated by West Midlands Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheslyn Hay</span> Village and civil parish in Staffordshire, England

Cheslyn Hay is a former mining village and civil parish in the South Staffordshire district of Staffordshire, England. It is 3 miles south of Cannock, 10 miles north of Walsall, 9 miles northeast of Wolverhampton, and 13 miles south of Stafford. The village forms a built-up area with the villages and areas of Great Wyrley, Landywood, and Churchbridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diamond West Midlands</span> British bus operating company

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norton Canes</span> Human settlement in England

Norton Canes is an industrial village, civil parish and ward of Cannock Chase District, in Staffordshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D&G Bus</span> English bus operator

D&G Bus is a bus operator based in Stoke-on-Trent. They operate local & interurban bus services in Cheshire, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester, Shropshire, Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent. D&G Bus is the largest bus operator in Cheshire East & the second-largest in North Staffordshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Centrebus Group</span> Transport company headquartered in Leicester, England

Centrebus Group, is a public transport company based in Leicester with bus services in the Midlands, North West and South East of England.

Route 62 is a bus route that operates in the United Kingdom between Lichfield and Cannock. It is operated by Chaserider.

References

  1. ↑ Companies House extract company no 6918592 D&G Bus Limited
  2. ↑ Harvey, Ian (1 September 2017). "Phil Gillam: All steamed up - but only in parallel universe". www.shropshirestar.com. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  3. ↑ Dougall, Emily (1 December 2020). "Arriva to sell Cannock bus depot as the Chaserider brand returns". CBW. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  4. ↑ North Staffs Route List Archived 4 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved Jan 2017
  5. ↑ Cheshire Route List Archived 6 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved Jan 2017
  6. ↑ Hardiman, Deborah. "Bus routes axed over low passenger rates". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  7. ↑ Hodgkiss, Samuel (31 January 2022). "Bus routes changes in Rugeley, Cannock, Stafford". burtonmail. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  8. ↑ Bunn, George (9 February 2022). "Upset as bus service from Cannock to Lichfield is scrapped". burtonmail. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  9. ↑ "Cannock to Telford with Chaserider". BusAndTrainUser. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  10. ↑ "June 2021 - Staffordshire County Council". www.staffordshire.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  11. ↑ "January 2022 - Staffordshire County Council". www.staffordshire.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  12. ↑ "Chaserider". Chaserider. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. ↑ https://www.chaserider.co.uk/news/walsall-to-lichfield-service-enhancements/
  14. ↑ "Chaserider 748".
  15. ↑ "Centrebus 670". wmbusphotos.com. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
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